Inhaler Article with Open Distal End and Capsule Cavity System
Summary
USPTO granted Patent No. US12594387B2 to Philip Morris Products S.A. for an inhaler article featuring a capsule cavity with a tubular element defining a central passage. The design includes an air inlet aperture with inner diameter ranging from 50% to 90% of the capsule cavity diameter, configured to receive swirling inhalation airflow. The 17-claim patent covers the inhaler body, mouthpiece end, distal end, and filter element assembly.
What changed
USPTO issued Patent No. US12594387B2 on April 7, 2026, granting Philip Morris Products S.A. exclusive rights to an inhaler article design incorporating a capsule cavity with downstream filter element and upstream tubular element. The patent specifies a central passage inner diameter of approximately 50% to 90% of the capsule cavity inner diameter, with the passage forming an axial air inlet extending from the distal end toward the capsule cavity.
For manufacturers developing inhalation delivery systems, this patent establishes intellectual property barriers for competing designs featuring similar swirling airflow configurations. Healthcare providers and pharmaceutical companies utilizing inhaler-based drug delivery should assess potential licensing requirements. The patent's classification under A61M (medical respiratory devices) indicates applicability across pharmaceutical, nicotine delivery, and therapeutic inhalation product markets.
What to do next
- Monitor for potential licensing opportunities
- Review patent claims for product development Freedom to Operate analysis
- Track related patent family members in other jurisdictions
Archived snapshot
Apr 8, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
Inhaler article with open distal end, and inhaler system
Grant US12594387B2 Kind: B2 Apr 07, 2026
Assignee
Philip Morris Products S.A.
Inventors
Gennaro Campitelli
Abstract
An inhaler article (150) includes a body (151) extending along a longitudinal axis of the inhaler article from a mouthpiece end (154) to a distal end (156), a capsule cavity (155) and a capsule (160) retained within the capsule cavity. The capsule cavity is defined within the body and bounded downstream by a filter element (157) and bounded upstream by a tubular element (153) defining a central passage (152) in fluid communication with the capsule cavity. The central passage forms an air inlet aperture extending along the longitudinal axis of the inhaler article from the distal end of the body towards the capsule cavity, wherein the tubular element has a central passage inner diameter in a range from about 50% to about 90% of an inner diameter of the capsule cavity. The inhaler article is configured to receive a swirling inhalation airflow into the central passage.
CPC Classifications
A61M 15/00 A61M 15/002 A61M 15/0031 A61M 15/0033 A61M 15/0035 A61M 15/0036 A61M 15/004 A61M 15/06 A61M 2202/064 A61M 2202/02 A61M 2206/16 A24F 40/20
Filing Date
2020-10-23
Application No.
17770719
Claims
17
Named provisions
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